Expatriate Bangladeshis protest Rohingya persecution before Myanmar consulate in Toronto

A group of Bangladeshi expatriates have demonstrated and formed a human chain in front of the Myanmar consulate in Toronto against the Rohingya persecution in the Rakhine State.

Poet Asad Chowdhury, who is now visiting the Canadian city, joined the demonstrators on Wednesday.

Organised by the Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDI), the protest programme was attended by the members of the PDI, local chapters of the Awami League, left-leaning parties and socio-cultural organisations.

Azizul Malik and Nasir Ud Doza spoke on behalf of PDI at the end of the protest.

After the peaceful protest that lasted about an hour, the demonstrators submitted a memorandum with 5-point demand. It includes an immediate halt to Rohingya ethnic cleansing in Rakhine, beginning of an early process for their repatriation, and the implementation of Kofi Annan commission’s reccomendations.

The organisers said the influx of Rohingya refugees will take a toll on Bangladesh's society and economy.

Over 500,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled their homes in Rakhine State since Aug 25 when the Myan military began a crackdown following an alleged attack on police and army posts by the militant Rohingya groups.